Skills expert Semta is today urging businesses to tap into new talent in 2013 and help rescue a lost generation.
As the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies, Semta wants to help employers plan truly effective training for the year ahead, and to secure the future by taking on apprentices and graduates.
As well as providing practical expertise, Semta is offering companies the opportunity to get involved in solving the sector’s skills issues.
With new money from the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot funding pot is now worth a total of £340million. So Semta is encouraging businesses and training providers in England to work with them as sector experts in partnership to bid for this investment.

Semta is already working with companies who won nearly £70 million in the first round this year to implement innovative skills solutions which will raise skills, create jobs, and drive enterprise and economic growth.
As the organisation responsible for improving skills in the UK’s 132,000 wealth-producing engineering and manufacturing companies, Semta is focussing on closing skills gaps in the supply chain, recruiting new talent through apprentices and graduates, and helping employers across the UK to access any funding still available.

Said Sarah Sillars OBE, Semta’s chief executive: “Semta is ideally positioned to offer advice and coordinate employers and sector organisations who can work in partnership and win funding to ensure employers’ skills needs are met.  The economy is forecast to return to growth in 2013 and Semta will be at the forefront, leading the charge on skills that provide a return on investment.
“Organisations in our sectors typically deliver £20,000 per employee more in Gross Value Added than the overall national average and therefore have a critical role to play in delivering economic recovery. So our role, in ensuring that the right skills are in place, will be a huge factor in the success of engineering and manufacturing in 2013.”

While much work is already underway to combat engineering and manufacturing skills challenges, Semta forecasts that more than 82,000 scientists, engineers and technologists will be needed across the UK by 2016 to take advantage of growth opportunities and reduce the impact of skills lost through retirement. And there is a further need to upskill 363,000 of the current technical workforce whose qualifications are currently below world class standards.

Semta’s 2012 achievements

A key focus for Semta in 2012 was to encourage companies to hire more apprentices by putting the right support mechanisms in place to enable employers to take on an apprentice more easily.

Semta is delivering on its Apprenticeship Ambition to double the number of advanced and higher apprenticeships from 8,000 to 16,000 by 2016. This will help ensure that industry has the higher skills needed to compete in value-added global markets.

Key to fulfilling the ambition is providing the frameworks needed by employers. So in 2012 Semta launched the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering higher apprenticeship, developed with employers for employers. Companies, such as BAE Systems, Jaguar Land Rover, and Siemens have already recruited more than 400 apprentices to the new framework which combines practical skills with a higher education qualification.

To make it easier for employers to recruit apprentices Semta this year expanded its managed apprenticeship service to work with around 50 colleges and providers, training more than 750 apprentices. In March 2012 the Semta Apprenticeship Service was described by Ofsted as outstanding in meeting the needs of employers and providing “outstanding value for money “. The Semta Apprenticeship Service achieves 94% Employer satisfaction, 88% Apprentice satisfaction and  a 87% Completion rate compared with a 76% national average.

In addition 2012 has also seen Semta:

• Bring to 1300 the number of women in engineering and manufacturing to benefit from the Career Advancement and Progression programme which offers women tailored training to help them reach their potential in a male dominated working environment.
• Support more than 600 advanced manufacturing and engineering supply chain firms to produce a skills plan and invest in training programmes that will improve performance and growth.
• Identify almost 2,700 new apprenticeship places against a March 2014 target of 4,000.
• Launch a Graduate Development Toolkit to support the effective recruitment, development & retention of graduates into manufacturing and engineering.
• Offer a £1,000 grant to help companies with up to 249 employees hire an unemployed graduate for at least 12 weeks. 

• Start the Advanced Skills Accreditation Scheme which allows companies access to individual Master’s degree modules for employees without any pre-qualifications.
  

The year ahead

Looking to 2013, while it is clear that while the economy will continue to present challenges, the government’s Industrial Strategy will put advanced manufacturing and engineering at the heart of the UK’s growth strategy.                

Continued Sarah Sillars: “Semta has made a real difference in 2012, helping advanced manufacturing and engineering employers to recruit apprentices and graduates, upskill the supply chain, increase higher levels skills and promote the development and retention of women.

“In the coming year we will help tackle the “lost generation”, by showing young people and their parents and advisors the fantastic career opportunities available in manufacturing and engineering. And we will work with employers and partners to ensure that these important sectors get the funding needed to develop sustainable skills solutions. The new year is always a good time to get your business planning right so any manufacturing or engineering employer, who needs skills support to boost business in 2013, should act now and contact Semta.”

For further details on how Semta could support your business, please contact Semta Customer Services on 0845 643 9001 or via email customerservices@semta.org.uk

Semta is the employer-led Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK.  The sectors it represents are:  Aerospace, Automotive, Composites, Electrical, Electronics, Maintenance, Marine, Mathematics, Mechanical, Metals and Engineered Metal Products, Renewables and Science.  Its role is to raise skills levels and competitiveness in the 132,000 companies and 1.7 million-strong workforce that make up these sectors. Its National Skills Academy for Manufacturing delivers an independent national standard for manufacturing training content, delivery and process by focusing on business return which is typically 6:1. 

www.semta.org.uk Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/Semta_4Skills

AWARD-winning lighting manufacturer, MHA Lighting, is helping a Londis convenience store slash its lighting energy bills by 63%.
The project at Hillnews, Darlington, will cut lighting energy bills by 63% and Co2 emissions by 63 tonnes.
Greater Manchester-based MHA Lighting replaced traditional fluorescents throughout Hillsnews’ shop floor, back office and post office areas with a selection of their award-winning TiLite fittings.


Hillsnews owner and Londis Retail partner, Andy Hill said: “We sought a new lighting solution after the costs associated with replacing our existing fluorescents with like-for-like became too much.

“We conducted an extensive procurement process and selected MHA Lighting because of their reputation and proven ability to design and install bespoke projects at other convenience stores.” 

With the store’s 15 hour day cycle, MHA Lighting is able to provide an ROI of 439% by significantly reducing annual lighting energy consumption from 16,767Kw/h (annual cost of £20,400) to just 6,140Kw/h. Annual energy bills have therefore been reduced to an average of just £1,764, bringing product lifetime savings to £17,562.

MHA Lighting’s patented TiLite technology achieves high colour rendering of 80CRI and 4,500 kelvin colour temperature. This particular combination offers the optimal colour for displaying produce thus enhancing the shopping experience for customers and increasing sales.

The lighting system is also extremely low maintenance and will run for 60,000 hours of continuous use. With Hillsnews’ 15 hour a day operation the lights will not need replacing for eleven years, making additional savings on maintenance costs of £205 per year – a saving of £2,255 over the product’s lifetime.

An additional benefit comes as the sealed units do not attract dust or insects, making them the most hygienic option for any convenience store.  The lack of heat given off by the units also means that produce stays fresher for longer and chillers and air conditioning doesn’t need to work as hard, saving further energy usage.

Andy continued: “The new LED lighting has considerably improved lighting levels and is significantly reducing our on-going energy costs, which for me is essential.

“I was particularly impressed with how vibrant the produce looks and the reduced flicker on CCTV monitors which has dramatically enhanced clarity of the CCTV footage.

“Both customers and staff have commented on how much brighter the store now appears.”

Andy added: “MHA Lighting’s team were both professional and knowledgeable right from day one of the project. They caused absolutely no disruption to my business as they were able to install the lighting outside of the store’s opening hours.”

MHA Lighting’s Managing Director Tom Harrison said: “We are thrilled that Hillsnews Londis chose MHA Lighting to renovate its existing lighting scheme.

“I am proud to say we are helping them to achieve a 63% cut in their lighting energy bills, whilst improving the shopping experience for their customers. Although smaller retailers are not affected by the government CRC scheme, it is great to see the more savvy retail business owners and franchisees making significant cost reductions, whilst doing their bit for the environment.”

Other retail stores to recently purchase lighting systems from MHA Lighting include Tout’s Budgens in Somerset, Mace, Cost Cutter, SPAR and various independent stores.

GREATER Manchesterased MHA Lighting has scooped a top accolade for one of its innovative lighting products.
MHA Lighting was one of only 50 companies from hundreds of shortlisted companies to be awarded the Tomorrow’s Facilities Management Product and Services Awards 2013 for its TiLite luminaire, which is designed and manufactured in the UK.

Eve Douglas, Editor of Tomorrow’s Facilities Manager said: “MHA Lighting’s TiLite Range was selected as one of our 50 winners in the Tomorrow’s FM’s Products and Services awards for the brilliant way in which it combines high quality lighting with the added benefits of energy savings of up to 80%.

“Myself and the rest of the panel were also very impressed by the fact that that it operates as a sealed unit, making it a maintenance-free fitting for facilities managers.”

With its unique sealed unit design which stops dust, bacteria and dead insects from gathering around warm light fittings and its ability to deliver high quality, uniformly distributed light, the TiLite is the perfect LED lighting solution for any setting, including retail, healthcare, and office environments.

The LED’s 60,000 hour life span (seven years at 24 hours a day, seven days a week) also eradicates the needs for routine maintenance and bulb replacement which again stops harmful bacteria from being distributed into the atmosphere, making it ideal for medical examination and food preparation environments. 

Eve added, “All in all, MHA Lighting’s TiLite is a fantastic product and well worthy of a place in our top 50 products for facilities mangers in 2013!”

MHA Lighting’s MD Tom Harrison said: “Being honored by Tomorrow’s Facilities Management Products and Services Awards is excellent acknowledgment of our success in providing managers with a solution that can meet their needs in every area – cost, energy efficient, reliability and light quality.

“With lighting being the second biggest consumer of energy in any building, the Facilities Manager has the opportunity to make a real financial impact and we pride ourselves on providing innovative lighting solutions that enable facilities mangers to upgrading their built environment whilst meeting the challenge of a low-carbon future.”

MHA Lighting has an extensive range of LED solutions for most internal and external applications.
MHA works to create the right lighting solution for each individual client and provides lighting solutions across a range of sectors including healthcare, retail, leisure, office and education, airports and outdoor, food production and garage forecourts.

Since late 2010 MHA has built a portfolio of Blue Chip commercial clients and public sector organisations, including: Bournemouth Airport, Scott Safety, GlaxoSmithKline, the NHS, Birmingham NEC, GMP, Manchester Airport, Newcastle Airport, Budgens, SPAR, Londis, Local Authorities and Chevron-Texaco.

Here at Indespension we have taken on our first apprenticeship for 10 years, demonstrating our renewed confidence with young people and investment into their future.

Tom Jackson, aged 17, from Little Lever Bolton, is currently doing his intermediate apprenticeship in engineering with Indespension Ltd in partnership with Alliance Learning as the NVQ training provider.

Tom is working within the engineering site for 4 days a week, under the supervision of production manager Barry Cromwell, gaining invaluable experience across a broad base of engineering skills. He is competent in cup and studding (of drums), drilling from fixtures, bending and setting hoops and assembling brackets, Tom can also assemble the running gear for a coupling  head, as well as having his Risk Assessment training. He is currently working on his pipe wrenching and hopes to have this skill notched onto his belt in the coming weeks.

Tom attends Alliance Learning once a week, working with his learning & development officer Paul Fletcher, to gain his National Vocational Qualification Level 2 Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations. Once this initial qualification is achieved, we will look to help Tom to achieve his advanced level 3 diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

At Indespension we are proud to be able to give the opportunity to help youths, with production manager Barry being an apprentice himself 37 years ago, he has now mentored over 10 apprentices in his time in charge, lending his guiding hand out to others.

Supporting apprenticeships is very important as we aim to keep a lot of our manufacturing in house, and we hope to support Tom as he becomes a fully qualified engineer.

Ritherdon & Company are proud to announce the acquisition of Nottinghamshire-based Poletech Systems Limited.

As part of the acquisition, all intellectual property rights, stocks, product patterns and designs are now owned solely by Ritherdon & Company. Thus, all Poletech products will now become part of Ritherdon & Co's product portfolio and will be manufactured, and supplied, by Ritherdon to meet all existing and future customers’ needs.

Ritherdon are the perfect Company to carry the Poletech vision forward, with their new innovative passive products that complement Poletech’s existing range, including the world’s first passively safe roadside cabinet.

Last month Poletech breakaway Poleplugs were used in the Ritherdon Crash Test Certification of a passively-safe roadside cabinet, in meeting the requirements of BS EN 12767:2007. Other products in the Poletech portfolio include; Permanent Underground Base Systems (PUB’s) for signposts, Pedestrian Guardrails, Demountable Pedestrian Islands and Demountable Mini-Roundabouts.

The acquisition of Poletech Systems Ltd. and its product portfolio signifies an expansion of Ritherdon’s current range of passive safe highways products, joining the Ritherdon FlexiPole, FlexiPost and passive safe roadside cabinet.

Ritherdon Managing Director, Ben Ritherdon, said: "Poletech’s owners were looking for a good home for their products, with someone who would continue to develop them. We can see a range of great products which could be of major use to many of our customers who may not yet even be aware of them.  The Poletech product applications also fit right in with our existing range, so we think it will be a perfect combination moving forward".

For further information on the acquisition you can contact Ritherdon & Co Ltd. on 01254 819 100 or visit our website. Poletech products can also be viewed by clicking the following link or the links above.

On 4th January 2013, Ritherdon & Company celebrated being incorporated as a Limited company for 100-years.

Although founded in 1895 by Percy Ritherdon, Ritherdon & Co became Ritherdon & Co Limited by registering as company number 126330 with Companies House in January 1913. 100-years down the line and Ritherdon & Co remains a family-run business, with original founder Percy Ritherdon’s great-grandson, Ben Ritherdon, now heading the company as Managing Director.
Ritherdon & Company has witnessed two World Wars, the Great Depression and the most recent global recession, yet three generations of the resilient Ritherdon family have managed to guide the company through some of the most uncertain and testing periods of modern history.

 The key to Ritherdon & Company’s longevity may well be its ability to adapt, be flexible and move with the zeitgeist. Over the years, Ritherdon & Company have not been afraid to change direction and enter new industries, sectors and markets – producing a vast array of products over the past 100-years.

 When the company was founded by Percy Ritherdon in 1895, Ritherdon & Co produced magic tricks for professional magicians. To ensure optimum quality and precise fabrication for these magic tricks, Percy worked closely with Chung Ling Soo – an American-born magician who rose to prominence in the UK and Europe during the late 19th and early 20th Century.

It wasn’t until after the First World War that Ritherdon & Co began to move towards what the company is renowned for today – sheet metal work. The company went on to produce electrical enclosures for Naval Warships during the Second World War and during the 50’s and 60’s supplied the nuclear industry with electrical enclosures for control panels.                

100-years later and Ritherdon & Company still continue to produce a variety of products for a variety of industries; from meter boxes and meter box repair units for the Housing industry, to passive safe products, feeder pillars and electrical enclosures for the Highways industry.

To mark our 100-years of Incorporation, Ritherdon & Co were awarded with a Centenary Certificate by Companies House to commemorate our Centenary year. The award was unexpected but well-received by Ritherdon & Co’s Managing Director, Ben Ritherdon.

He said of the milestone and Centenary certificate: “It was a pleasant surprise to receive the 100 year achievement certificate from Companies House – a bit like getting your telegram from the Queen I imagine! However, it does make me very happy to think of all the people we must have employed and all the different products we have made since Percy Ritherdon founded the company all those years ago.”

For further information on Ritherdon & Company, our history, or any Ritherdon product you can visit our website. Alternatively you can contact us. For the latest Ritherdon news, offers and updates you can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

Movetech UK's Phil Childs has spent three decades sitting on the British Standards Technical Committee TDW4/- an organisation where he currently sits as chairman.

The sales manager is an industry veteran of more than 51 years, beginning his career as an apprentice draughtsman at BAE Systems (then British Aerospace) and moving to Movetech UK 15 years ago, where he has held a variety of roles.

As the leader of the UK delegation to ISO TC213 Technical Committee, Phil travels the world learning best practice, as well as influencing the contents of the standards agreements relating to technical drawing, which affect all of British industry. He employs the knowledge acquired by investigating how the best companies around the globe operate and brings the ideas back to the Bolton Company.

He recounts: "At British Aerospace, as chief draughtsman I was responsible for ensuring all drawings produced conformed to British Standard BS308 and International Standards as well as the technical content.

"This led to my involvement with the standards committee and today I lead 20 technical experts chosen from academia and industry to generate and review national and international standards. As chairman I authorise the publication of all national standards relating to Engineering Technical Drawing such as BS8888, which explains which ISO Standards are applicable to UK industry."

Tim Entwistle, managing director at Movetech UK says "We're really proud that one of the team holds such an important role on one of the British Standards committees. It certainly keeps us on our toes!"

Movetech UK (www.movetechuk.com) is part of the British Turntable Group, which has been developing and manufacturing rotary, vertical and linear movement solutions for a wide range of industries since 1959. Based in Bolton, this family owned manufacturer exports to more than 140 countries.

Its products range from turntables for retail, theatre or exhibition use; up to large revolves capable of rotating vehicle or aircraft. It also designs and manufactures Hovair™ air film equipment including air bearings, air skates and Hovair™ air film transporters. Movetech UK also has exclusive UK distribution rights for JUNG heavy duty machinery skates and hydraulic lifting jacks.

For product information, contact:

Kamil, info@movetechuk.com 01204 525 626

The Bolton Manufacturers Group has a strong focus on giving back to the community and makes a monthly donation to support local charities and community organisations. They donate all the proceeds (£15 per member) of each meeting to a chosen charity each month. They also provide the charities with the chance to engage with local entrepreneurs, which has proven to be invaluable over the past year.

Local businesses are beginning to embrace the ethos of giving back and share the social responsibility of the group. Carren Bell from Lagans Foundation, a local charity supporting children under 5 with congenital heart disease says this about the group, “Lagan's foundation is a brand new charity local to Bolton. Through our links with Gary Sheader and the Bolton Manufacturing Group he has allowed the charity to reach many more companies and individuals than any advertising alone could have done. The group allowed us to get close to operations and we were privileged to deliver pitches to the group. In addition to all of this the group helped to raise almost £1000 for the charity. We cannot thank them enough for their help.”

Bolton Manufacturers Group provides vital information for the manufacturing community of Bolton and the surrounding towns. They have seen over 50 local manufacturing businesses attend their monthly meetings and have just celebrated their one year anniversary. Members receive a constant stream of information to assist business growth, such as funding opportunities, advice on the latest technology and ideas on good business practice.

 “Our government believes that it is manufacturing that will lead the way out of recession and, by having networks like this where knowledge can be shared, and contacts made, in an informal, relaxed, atmosphere (and with good pie & peas) can only help. It was Gary's foresight and perseverance that made it happen and long may it continue to thrive.” Val Pilkington, Managing Director, PMT Industries.

For more details on the event please contact the Chairman of the Manufacturers Group, Gary Sheader on: Tel: 01204 410062 Email: gary@futurestatesolutions.co.uk